This window installation uses image of the exteriors of the houses, apartment buildings and lofts where late NYC artists including Keith Haring, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cookie Mueller and Charles Ludlam were living at the time of their deaths. The windows serve as a remembrance of their loss and reminds viewers of the continued presence of these artists’ work in our culture. 6-8 pm. NYU’s Kimmel Center exterior windows, LaGuardia Place and Washington Square South. The event will be followed by a reception at the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place.

With a “Starring Brooklyn” theme, the gala will be a stylish tribute to Brooklyn’s achievements on stage and screen. The event includes a cocktail party, auction, gourmet dining and dancing and will be hosted by Stacy London of TLC’s “What Not to Wear” and will honor Mike Baker of IKEA. 6:30-11 pm. $275. Stage 6 at Steiner Studios, 15 Washington Ave., Brooklyn Navy Yard. For tickets and information contact 718-622-2492 ext. 5115, or www.pinkandblacktiegala.com.

Thursday, May 6 to Saturday, May 8

Design on a Dime Event

Housing Works Thrift Shops’ sixth annual interior design benefit event let you shop rooms — which include housewares, furniture and linens — created by 50 top designers: Jamie Drake, Peter Som for Sferra, Charlotte Moss and Steven Sclaroff among them. All the donated merch is new and will be sold for 50 to 70 percent off retail, with funds going to supportive housing for adults living with HIV/AIDS. Also for sale: furnishings from Daniel Craig’s NYC rental, which means for $3,000, you can buy the sofa (valued at $7,500) where James Bond XXIII sat. If you attend the VIP preview on Thursday night, you get first dibs on the designer goodies, while enjoying cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and the company of Jaclyn Smith (for Kmart) and Ty Pennington. Preview tickets, $150; doors open at 6 pm. On Fri. and Sat., the sale opens to the public from 10 am-6 pm. Free. Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., www.housingworks.org/dime.

Friday, May 7 to Sunday, May 9

BKLYN DESIGNS

This exhibition of furnishings and accessories made and/or designed in Brooklyn comes to DUMBO for its eighth year. In addition to the fair, which will feature 45 of the borough’s most talented designers, there are a slew of festivities surrounding the event, including on-site happy hours, dee-jays, live music, a kids lounge, Mother’s Day brunches and free samples of everything from coffee to vegan cookies. Fri., 10 am–8 pm; Sat., 10 am–7 pm; Sun., 11 am–6 pm. Advance tickets, $12; $15 at the door. St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St., DUMBO, 718-243-1414, www.bklyndesigns.com.

Friday, May 7

Opening Reception: “The City We Imagined/The City We Made”

This exhibit about architecture, planning, and development in New York City from 2001 to the present, sponsored by F.J. Sciame Construction Co. and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, will open tonight . 7 pm. Free. The Architectural League of New York, 250 Hudson St.

Saturday, May 8

Brooklyn Heights Association House Tour

The 26th annual house tour features five distinct Brooklyn Heights townhouses and their gardens. 1-5 pm. $40. Tickets are sold at 129 Pierrepont St. starting at 12:30 pm on Sat. For more information, call 718-858-9193.

Saturday, May 8

2010 Design Awards Symposium: Architecture and Interiors

Principals and lead architects will present the design concept behind each awarded project in AIANY’s annual design awards and respond to the following question: How does the design of your local project interact with its urban environment? Participants include Stacie Wong of Peter Gluck and Partners, Sonya Lee of Toshiko Mori Architects, James Garrison of Garrison Architects and David Rolland of Rafael Vinoly Architects, among others. 11 am – 5 pm. Free. Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place.

Paul Stoller, principal of Atelier Ten, one of the world’s foremost environmental design and lighting design firms, will address at this event how implementing sustainable solutions is possible in old and new urban buildings, and how environmental design is integrated into the larger design process. He will use the firm’s recent work in the city’s outer boroughs, Stoller will discuss integrated water management, high performance facades, next-generation lighting systems and advanced HVAC and energy systems. He will also look at emerging trends for the next generation of green development. 6-8 pm. Free. NY Designs 29-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, Queens.

Tuesday, May 11

Tree of Life Award Dinner

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) will honor real estate developer Joseph Moinian of the Moinian Group for his numerous contributions to the Jewish community at this awards dinner. 6 pm. $1,000. Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 80 Columbus Circle. For more information and to make a reservation, contact Jessica Siskind at 212-879-9305, ext. 508, or jsiskind@jnf.org.

Wednesday, May 12

Reconsidering Gowanus Forum

The release of the report “Reconsidering Gowanus: Opportunities for the Sustainable Transformation of an Industrial Neighborhood” will kick off this forum which will take a timely and strategic look at an area that holds promise for Brooklyn. Panelists include Bill Appel of the Gowanus Canal CDC; Bill de Blasio, NYC Public Advocate and Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough president. 8:30-11:30 am. Free. Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., 2nd floor, Downtown Brooklyn. To register, visit www.baruch.cuny.edu/realestate.

Wednesday, May 12

Surviving and Flourishing in the Downturn

The B’nai B’rith Real Estate Unit holds a luncheon and discussion with Matthew Blesso, president of Blesso Properties. Noon-2 pm. $60 in advance; $70 at the door. The Cornell Club, 6 E. 44th St., 4th floor. Information and registration at 212-885-7239 or akuilan@bdo.com.

This Fifth Avenue institution is, sadly, closing, but happily, you can enjoy a storewide sale on unique merchandise from around the globe, featuring artisanal, one-of-a-kind objects for the home, all reflecting Takashimaya’s timeless signature style and all up to 40 percent off.